Rajasthan Royals sparked excitement among fans ahead of their crucial clash against Gujarat Titans by posting a video showing captain Sanju Samson practicing wicketkeeping drills. This has fueled speculation about Samson’s potential return to the playing XI, either as a full-time keeper or purely as a batter using the Impact Player rule.
Samson had suffered an abdominal injury during the match against Delhi Capitals, retiring hurt after scoring 31 runs. Medical tests later revealed a side strain, sidelining him for the following games and casting doubt on his immediate return.
Before the injury, Samson was enjoying a strong season with 224 runs from seven matches at an average of 37.33 and a strike rate of 140. Interestingly, in the early part of the season, Samson featured only as a batter in Rajasthan Royals’ first three matches due to a BCCI restriction on his wicketkeeping activities.
While the latest video shows him undergoing wicketkeeping drills, it remains unclear whether Samson will resume full-time keeping duties. With the Impact Player rule in place, RR have the flexibility to field Samson purely as a batter if needed, ensuring they manage his fitness carefully while still benefiting from his batting prowess.
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What was the major factor in the Rajasthan Royals’ struggles this season?
An official update on Samson’s exact role is awaited, but the signs are positive for Rajasthan Royals as they head into a crucial phase of the tournament. RR had a forgetful outing in the 18th edition of the tournament so far as the inaugural IPL champions are currently on number nine with two wins in their nine outings of the tournament.
